Broadway music director, Playbill columnist, Sirius XM host, and “unofficial mayor of Broadway” Seth Rudetsky stopped by NBC’s New York Live January 9 to talk about his latest concert series: Broadway at the Town Hall.
“What's fun about these concerts is that it's like hanging out with me and a Broadway star in my living room—without all the dog pee, we can't train my dog,” he joked. Rudetsky kicked off his series with six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald.
Read: WHAT YOU MISSED AT SETH RUDETSKY’S INAUGURAL TOWN HALL CONCERT STARRING AUDRA MCDONALD
“It’s one of a kind. It's never the same,” Rudetsky said of his concerts, “I hate patter. Instead of set patter I love chatting with them between songs and asking them whatever the hell I want.” Through these piano-side chats, Rudetsky is able to discover stories about some of the most hilarious onstage mishaps, incredible backstories, and more from Broadway’s biggest stars.
But it’s not just the conversation—it’s the music that makes his shows a singular event.
“Kelli O’Hara said she wanted to be a country singer when she was a little girl,” Rudetsky said. “I’m going to bring all these Patsy Cline songs and make her sing them. Don’t tell her!"
And Rudetsky said his guests enjoy the spontaneity of the shows. “Eight shows a week can get boring. People never know what's going to happen next.”
As for what to expect when he and O’Hara hit the stage January 14: “I want Kelli to do country, I want Kelli to do opera. But I also love recreating Broadway. I can't stand when someone says, 'Here's my hit show from Broadway calypso style.' No! I want to hear what you sound like on the album!”
Watch the full video interview below to hear more about Rudetsky’s plans for his future Town Hall concert with Jeremy Jordan, his upcoming engagement with two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole, and more.
Seth Rudetsky has been a special guest performer on Playbill's Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Playbill’s Broadway on the Rhône River 2 April 7–14, 2019, featuring Melissa Errico, Norm Lewis, Rebecca Luker, Marc Kudisch, and Seth Rudetsky, and Broadway in the Great Northwest, Playbill Travel’s first domestic cruise, will bring passengers on a journey through the Pacific Northwest from April 26–May 4, 2020.
Playbill Travel is currently accepting waitlist travelers for its sold-out cruises: Broadway in Bordeaux With Michael Feinstein (September 1–9, 2019) and Broadway on the High Seas: The Greek Isles (June 24–July 1, 2019). Call Playbill Travel for tickets at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.
